Transfer Rumours Summer 2024

Agree with striker but not so much the other 2. We brought in Lavia, who was excellent, then replaced him with Downes. GK brought in Baz. Personally I don't think he is good enough, certainly not yet anyway, but we still addressed the position by spending north of £10m.

 

He’s good enough for a lower half PL team so long as he’s not who you’re relying on to score all your goals imo. If the choices were sign Che but don’t sign another striker or don’t sign Che and sign a new striker, I think pretty much everyone would rather roll the dice with another striker. If we can retain Che and sign a new striker that seems the way forward. I really hope we are selling/loaning Mara and not planning on him being the 3rd striking option.

 

Because finding strikers who can trouble international defenders, are rarely injured and know the way of playing is very very difficult. Given that our main striker signing from last season has all sorts of question marks - I'd say availability is the most important ability.

He'd be a very useful squad player (as shown by Wolves etc interest)

 

But we were awful when Lavia missed games and even more awful with Martins system when Downes missed games. Having one DM is not enough. I’d like to see us starting two, let alone having another one to bring on when circumstances arise. I agree we tried to address the GK problem, and yet in the PL we ended up reverting back to the old problem of Forster and McCarthy towards the end. I also agree it’s unlikely we’ll spend on a new no.1 because the club believe in Baz (plus we have so many areas we need to spend on) even though most fans have pretty big reservations after the last two seasons. But he’s out this season, McCarthy isn’t a no.1 PL keeper any more. Really hoping we bring in a new no.1 on loan for the season, even if that is kicking the GK problem down the road until next year.

 

If Mara is the striker we turn to when we’re chasing a game then it will be a long depressing season.

 

You weren’t expecting this anyway?

On paper we have possibly the worst, at best the second worst squad in the league. That isn’t going to change much with one transfer window. We may survive of course but I can’t see some exciting season ahead of us

 

Very good point on the depth at DM, particularly with Downes. Although it could well be a budget issue.

100% with you on GK, really hoping we don't go into the season with McCarthy as no.1. But I think we will.

 

I think we’ll be doing the bare minimum £ wise across all positions to hopefully sneak 17th but with a real intention of creating a future squad capable of challenging the season after. Not that I agree but that’s a sound financial stance. I wish & hope for more but I’m not convinced we can or are able.

 

If we did re-sign Lavia on loan, and then didn't play 2 DMs with him and Downes, I would have to conclude that RM is certifiably insane.

 

We obviously aren’t getting Lavia back.

 

This is what SR tried to do our relegation season I think. Sign a bunch of talented kids and a couple of more experienced players (DCC, AMN and Aribo) and trust that with the core of the squad we could survive, and then kick on the following season when the kids had some experience of the top flight.

We all know what happened and that experience may have broken some of the younger players/severely harmed their development playing in a team as bad as we were.

They may be looking to do a similar thing again, but hopefully with a bit more of an eye on “if we go down this is what the squad will look like..”

 

I am split. I think it is smart to resign him as no transfer fee. But after watching him for numerous seasons be our starting striker I want something new. He is such a frustrating player to watch considering how many clear chances he misses. His scotland performance has not helped convince me otherwise. This may have been why I was hoping we would give tall Paul a fair shot but will have to wait and see.

 

Is Rupert Lowe signing as our Che replacement?

 

LeG (the ITK who originally posted that hint about an enquiry) has posted he's "enjoyed reeding all the suggestions" ... Harrison Reed, surely?

 

I think he has been pretty good for Fulham so would be a decent signing. Not sure why he would rather us over Fulham though

 

I'd love Harry Reed back. Prefer him to a crocked Lavia on loan.

Surely as good as, if not better, than Downes.

Expect its bollocks though.

 

I'd rather Downes over Reed without a doubt. We know how good Downes is and he fits our system perfectly.

 

From the little I’ve seen Reed at Fulham it seems he plays all the centre midfield roles, not just the DM or the 6 or whatever it’s called by hipsters. I’m assuming Palhinha has that position locked down so maybe he is looking to move for more regular playing time, but as I say could be useful to cover all areas if we are going with 3 midfielders again.

If we play 3 at the back then makes sense to have 2 DMs I think to allow the wingbacks to bomb forward so Downes + 1 more. Not sure what that would mean for Aribo and Smallbone who wouldn’t really fit in the formation

 

Bobby De Cordova-Reid has decided to sign for Leicester

 

I think we all would but does an enquiry necessarily mean we aren’t getting Downes. Although it’s difficult to seeing us getting Downes, Reed and O’Riley. That’s a technically a “new” midfield. Although we need more quality and I’m not sure Smallbone and Aribo are up to it. Smallbone is untested but lightweight. Aribo was bad in the premier league last time but so was pretty much everyone